Pole sign



Nov. 25, 1969 H. K. SNYDER, JR v 3,479,760

POLE SIGN Filed March 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l lill 2W ,W W'I' n W ,Nl

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POLE S IGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1968 United States Patent O 3,479,760 POLE SIGN H. Kent Snyder, Jr., River Forest, Ill., assignor to Chicago Display Company, Melrose Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 716,017 Int. Ci. G09f 7/18 US. Cl. 40-145 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A display sign suitable for mounting on a pole comprises a pair of iiexible placards of identical shape and size, and having linear top and bottom edges. The top and bottom ends of each placard are folded over onto the backs of the placards to form sleeves, each having a pair of fastening apertures near the ends and a pair of mounting apertures near the center. Flexible bars are located in the sleeves, the bars having apertures aligned with the fastening and mounting apertures. The sign is mounted on a pole by fastening the corresponding corners of the placards to one another at the fastening apertures in back-to-back relationship bowed around the pole. A pair of flexible straps are passed through the mounting apertures, one at the top and one at the bottom of the sign, and around the pole. Tightening means on the straps provide for tightening the straps around the sign and pole.

The present invention relates to an improved display sign, and more specifically to an improved sign for mounting on a pole.

Display devices for mounting on poles are quite common and well known. For example, they are frequently utilized in automobile service stations, which commonly have at least one vertical pole in a prominent place to display the trade mark of the gasoline being sold. The display signs are generally mounted on the pole, and below the permanent sign displaying the gasoline trade mark. These pole signs are generally of a somewhat temporary character, frequently advertising a current promotion of the dealer. The signs are therefore usually made of cardboard or the like. In spite of the fact that they are often temporary, display signs must be quite securely mounted in order to withstand wind and the elements,

Heretofore, such signs have generally been mounted on poles by means of a bracket assembly mounted on the pole underneath the sign. Such Ibracket assemblies have the disadvantage that they are expensive and that it is relatively time-consuming to mount them on the pole. lf such brackets are left on the pole on a permanent basis, they are unsightly during periods when there is no sign attached to the pole to cover them. With some designs that have heretofore been used, the aforementioned brackets are not even covered when a sign is in place, which also detracts from the overall appearance.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display sign which may be mounted on a vertical pole while presenting a neat, attractive appearance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display sign that may be quickly and easily mounted on a pole without any requirement for brackets being first attached to the pole.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pole sign that is easily mounted on poles of varying cross-sectional shapes, and maintains itself tightly secured.

Generally, the present invention comprises a sign for ICC mounting on a pole which comprises a pair of flexible placards, each having printing on the front side. The placards are of substantially identical shape and size so that the sides and ends will be aligned with one another when the placards are bowed around a pole in back-toback relationship. The placards each have linear top and bottom edges which are'folded over onto the back of the placards to form elongated sleeves. Each of the sleeves has a pair of fastening apertures adjacent to the ends and a pair of mounting apertures near the center. A pair of flexible supporting bars is provided for each placard, the supporting bars being adapted to tit into the sleeves, and 4being approximately equal to the length of the sleeves. The supporting bars have apertures aligned with the aforementioned fastening and mounting apertures, so that the fastening and mounting apertures pass entirely through the sleeve and the supporting bars when the supporting bars are fully inserted into the sleeves. Fastening means are provided for fastening the corresponding corners of the sign placards to one another in back-to-back relationship when bowed around the pole. Finally, the sign is secured to the pole by upper and lower iexible mounting straps. 'Ihe upper strap is adapted to pass through all four of the mounting apertures at the top of the placards and around the pole, while the lower strap is adapted to pass through all four of the mounting apertures at the bottom of the placards and around the pole. lEach of the straps includes tightening means for tightening it around the pole after it has been passed through the mounting apertures.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be best lappreciated by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE l, is a perspective view of the pole sign of the present invention mounted on a service station pole;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view of the back of a sign placard showing one of the securing straps adjacent to its corresponding sleeve;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the whole sign of the present invention illustrating the first step in mounting the sign on a pole;

FIGURE 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the display sign of the present invention in a latter stage of mounting on a pole; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the pole sign of the present invention, taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE l, there is illustrated the pole sign of the present invention, in assembled relationship, and generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The pole sign 10 is mounted on a vertical pole 12, which, for purposes of illustration, carries a permanent service station display 14. While the pole 12 shown in the drawings is of circular cross-sectional configuration, it will be understood that the pole sign 10 of the present invention is equally well adapted to mounting on poles of square, rectangular, or other cross-sectional shapes. 'I'he pole sign 10 comprises a pair of identical placards 16 bowed around the pole 12 in back-to-back relationship. Each of the placards 16 has advertising 18 printed on the front side thereof, so that the pole sign 10 displays an advertisement from either side. Each of the placards 16 will usually be of rectangular shape as illustrated in the drawings, although the present invention is equally well adapted for use with other shapes, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is essential, however, that each placard 16 have a linear top edge 26 and a linear bottom edge 22.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the top and bottom ends of the placards 16 are each folded over onto the backs of the placards 16 and secured by suitable means such as staples 24 to form elongated sleeves 26. Each of the sleeves 26 has a pair of fastening apertures 28 one adjacent to each end. These apertures are positioned for fastening the corners of the placards 16 together in backto-back relationship when the placards are mounted on a vertical pole as illustrated in FIGURE l.

Near the center of the sleeves 26 are a pair of mounting apertures 30, which are preferably spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the pole 12. It is also preferable that each mounting aperture 3() in a pair be equidistant from the center of its associated sleeve 26. A supporting bar 32, of strong but flexible material such as steel, is inserted into each sleeve 26. Each of the supporting bars 32 has fastening apertures 28 and mountLK ing apertures 30 positioned for alignment with the corre sponding apertures in the sleeves 26.

In the most preferred embodiment, for larger signs each of the placards 16 has at least one fold line 34 running generally transverse to the direction of the pole 12. The number of fold lines 34 to be used will of course depend on the size of the placards 16. In the case of a rectangular sign as that illustrated in the drawings, the fold lines 34 are parallel to the top and bottom edges 20, 22, respectively. The sign will then be shipped to the user in disassambled or partially disassembled relationship, and folded along the fold lines 34.

The mounting of the pole sign of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. The sleeves 26 will be usually formed prior to shipment, and the supporting bars 32 will have been inserted. The two placards 16 are removed from their shipping container (not shown), partially unfolded and placed adjacent to a pole 12 as shown in FIGURE 3. This operation can be performed by one person, since the portions of the placards 16 which remain folded may simply be allowed to lie on the ground. The placards 16 are positioned with the advertising 18 facing outward, and with the pole 12 aligned between the mounting apertures 30. A securing strap 36, as hereinafter described, is passed through a mounting aperture 3) in one placard 16, past the pole 12, and through the corresponding mounting aperture 30 of the opposite placard 16 as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 3. The strap is then passed across the front of one of the sleeves 26, through the adjacent mounting aperture 30 in that sleeve, past the pole again, and through the mounting aperture 30 adjacent to the first mounting aperture 30 through which the strap 36 was passed. The ends of the strap 36 are then secured together, so that the strap 36 will have passed through each of the mounting apertures 30 at the top of the placards 16 and around the pole 12. The completely installed strap 36 is clearly shown in FIGURE 5.

The ends of the securing strap 36 are secured together by means capable of holding the securing strap 36 tightly around the placards 16 and pole 12. As illustrated in -FIG- URE 3, suitable tightening means include a threaded tightening screw 38 on one end of the strap 36 and a plurality of parallel slots 40 penetrating the strap, and running generally transverse to its length although at a slight angle thereto. The slots 40 and screw 38 are adapted so that the screw 38 engages the slots 40 and so that turning the screw 38 will adjust the length of the strap 36. At this point in the mounting of the sign, the strap 36 is not completely tight, but is only loosely mounted. The installer then slides the sign up the pole 12 and tightens the strap 36 securely to maintain the sign in position. He then installs an identical strap 36 through the mounting apertures 30 at the bottom of the sign placards 16 in the same manner as hereinbefore described for the installation of the strap 36 at the top of the placards 16.

Once the straps 36 have been installed, the corners of the placards 16 are secured together by fastening means penetrating the fastening apertures 38. Preferably, each pair of corners is fastened together by a bolt 42 penetrating the aligned fastening apertures 28 in each placard,

and secured on the opposite side of the sign 10 by a wing nut 44. Washers 46 may be employed between the nuts 44 and bolts 42 and their associated sign placard 16 to minimize wear. While securing the sign at the corners will often be suficient to maintain it on the pole, it is preferred, especially for larger signs, to include additional fastening means along the sides of the placards 16 for fastening the sides to one another, thus obtaining a neater appearance and more securely holding the sign 10 on the pole 12. As shown in FIGURE 4, the sides of the placards 16 may suitably be fastened to one another by bolts 46 passing through aligned eyelets 48 in the placards 16, and engaging conventional spring clips 50 on the opposite side.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the completely assembled sign 10 comprises a pair of placards 16 in back-to-back relationship and bowed around the pole 12. The corners of the placards 16 are secured to one another by bolts 42 and nuts 44, and are secured to the pole by securing straps 36 which pass across the faces of each placard 16, as well as passing completely around the pole 12.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention Will occur to those skilled in the art. and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sign for mounting on a pole comprising: a pair of fiexible placards of identical shape and size, said placards each having front and back sides and linear top and bottom edges, the top and bottom ends of said placards each folded over onto the backs of said placards to form elongated sleeves, said sleeves each having apertures including a pair of fastening apertures adjacent the ends of said sleeves and a pair of mounting apertures near the center of said sleeves; fiexible supporting bars adapted to fit into said sleeves, said bars approximately equal in length to said sleeves and having apertures aligned with said fastening apertures and said mounting apertures; fastening means for fastening the corresponding corners of said sign placards to one another at said fastening apertures in backto-back relationship bowed around said pole; upper and lower fiexible mounting straps, said upper strap adapted to pass through each of said mounting apertures at the top of said placards and around said pole, and said lower strap adapted to pass through each of said mounting apertures at the bottom of said placards and around said pole: and tightening means for tightening said straps around said sign and said pole.

2. The sign as defined in claim 1 wherein said tightening means comprise a threaded tightening screw on one end of each of said straps, said screw adapted to engage a plurality of parallel slots penetrating the opposite end of said strap to permit adjustment of the length of said strap by turning said screw in engagement with said slots.

3. The sign as defined in claim 1 wherein said placards each have at least one fold line generally transverse to said pole.

4. The sign as defined in claim 3 further including additional fastening means along the sides of said placards for fastening said sides to one another in back-to-back relationship and bowed around said pole.

5. A sign for mounting on a pole comprising: a pair of rectangular, flexible placards of identical shape and size, said placards each having front and back sides, the top and bottom ends of said placards each folded over toward the back of said placards to form elongated sleeves, said sleeves each having apertures including a pair of fastening apertures adjacent the ends of said sleeves and a pair of mounting apertures near the center of said sleeves, the distance between said mounting apertures approximating the width of said pole; flexible supporting bars adapted to fit into said sleeves, said bars approximately equal in length to said sleeves and having apertures aligned with said fastening apertures and said mounting apertures; fastening means for securing the corners of said sign placards to one another at said fastening apertures in back-to-back relationship bowed around said pole; additional fastening means along the sides of said placards for securing said sides to one another in back-to-back relationship; upper and lower ileXible mounting straps, said upper mounting strap adapted to pass through each of said mounting apertures at the top of said placards and around said pole, and said lower mounting strap adapted to pass through each of said mounting apertures at the bottom of said placards and around said pole; a threaded tightening screw on the end of each of said straps, said screw adapted to engage a plurality of parallel slots penetrating the opposite end of said strap to permit adjustment of the length of said strap by turning said screw in engagement with said slots.

6. The sign as defined in claim 5 wherein said placards each have at least one fold line parallel to said top and bottom edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,764,830 10/1956 Frey 40-145 3,138,886 6/1964 Cobb 40-145 X 3,182,414 5/1965 Snediker 40-145 3,217,437 11/1965 Cobb 40-145 X 3,310,899 3/1967 Hart et al 40-145 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner (5/69) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATEv OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 479,760 Dated November 2S. 1969 b Inventor(5) Ho Kent Snyder, Jr,

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

l Column 5, line 11, after "on" change "the" to read one.

SIGNED AND SEALED AUG 1 1.1970

(SEAL) Arrest:

` Oomissioner of m Amusing 0M 

